“Oh, have you brought me a present?” Diana said, in delight.
“Yes, mother and Alice and I have each given you one, and there is this one from Angel Hen-Farrell.”
“An egg!” Diana cried. “Father said I could have an egg for my supper. I’ll have it dropped on toast. I couldn’t have any of the Christmas dinner, except the oyster soup.”
“Oh, you poor darling!” said Peggy.
“It was very good soup,” said Diana, “and I was so happy to have Peggy Owen Carter and the rest of my presents; and the carols, last night, were so lovely!”
“Carols last night?” the children cried. “We didn’t hear any.”
“The Christmas Waits came and sang under my window. I could see them from my bed. The leader carried a torch so the others could see to read their books. He had on a red cloak. And they sang such beautiful carols!”
“Oh, why didn’t they come out and sing to us?” said Alice.
“You are pretty far out of town. I think they only sang to sick people and old people. They went up to the hospital, and they asked father for a list of his patients who were not too sick to be disturbed by the singing.”
“Well, anyway, I’d rather have been well than to have heard the carols,” said Peggy. “You poor dear, I can’t get over your being in bed on Christmas Day.”